University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gopher Spotlight: Samantha Seliger-Swenson
9/21/2018 12:40:00 PM | Volleyball
Tell us about the study abroad program you did in May.
There were 20 students from the U of M and we went to Florence, Italy, which is where we spent most of our time. We also went to Rome for a couple of days with a few other weekend trips here and there. I was studying a class called The Great Minds of the Renaissance and it was for my major, business marketing education. For my major you have to do an internship, but the study abroad class counted for that. As athletes, we don't have the chance to study abroad, so going for a couple weeks in May was a great option for me. It was just a really good opportunity to meet new people, learn about Italy's history and be away from home for a couple of weeks.
Why did @samjoswens choose the University of Minnesota? Check out this video as we get to know our #Gophers. pic.twitter.com/DmCtjNjnM9
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 21, 2018
You've had a memorable career here so far, what has been your favorite memory?
Obviously the ones that stick out will be the Final Fours, Big Ten Championship and all of the big matches we've won, but I would say overall my favorite memory has been going to battle with my teammates. I know when I leave here, that is what I'm going to miss the most. It's not just going to be the trophies that I am going to miss, it's going to be the people and playing with my team and all of us being dedicated to one common goal.
What does playing for this school and being on this team mean to you?
Being from Minnesota, it's such a huge honor because I grew up idolizing the Gopher Volleyball team and program. Being able to represent my home state and the program that I love and care about so much, is such an honor. It's also great getting the chance to play alongside all of my teammates who I respect so much. I know that they are working hard for me, so that makes me want to work hard for them.
You recently switched your number from 11 to 13, how does it feel to be playing you final season with that number on your jersey?
It means a lot to me because my mom wore it and my aunt, who has passed away, also wore that number. It is kind of a family tradition. All of my cousins and siblings have always been number 13, whether it's for little league baseball or their high school and college sports careers. I thought it'd be a cool way to connect with my family and remember my aunt.
What is your leadership style like?
I would say that I have really developed my leadership style throughout my four years here. I didn't come in being a very vocal leader, just because I was pretty young. Over the past four years, I've learned how to be direct and honest with my teammates and being a setter, expecting a lot from my teammates. It's kind of always been equalized to being the quarterback of the team. I've learned how to work with other people. Everyone is different and you need to know how certain people take criticism or respond to certain situations, so I've learned to be adaptive to my teammates. I also try to work as hard as I can on the court so my teammates will do the same.
How have you grown as a player since you first came to Minnesota?
When I first got here, I was very caught up with expectations for myself and the team. Playing in front of a big crowd was really scary to me and I got frustrated with myself and nervous every day at practice. I was really hard on myself and I think that was kind of a blessing in disguise. It helped me become the person I am today, but I feel like I'm not as negative anymore. I've grown into becoming not as sensitive when it comes to taking constructive feedback from coaches. When I was a freshman, if they coached me on something specific, I saw it as a negative, but I've learned to think of it as a positive. I've really developed my mental toughness over the years.
Interview conducted by Jordyn Anderson, Athletic Communications student intern
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